Ouch…

Well, I made it through another egg retrieval; though it feels I didn’t make it out as unscathed as I did last time. 

Nick and I were up early to get ready and make the 45-minute drive to the clinic. We checked in at 10:30 a.m. and waited our turn. While we waited, I commented about feeling déjà vu.

I felt crampy and really ready to head back to the OR and get it over with, much like I did last time. We also sat in the exact same waiting-room chairs as we did last year. 

Unfortunately, that’s where the big similarities ended. 

I had a different anesthesiologist than last year, Dr. R., and he did things differently. For the anesthesia/IV, he used a vein in my hand vs. my arm. (Side note: I definitely prefer the arm. A needle in the hand stings!)

My recovery-room nurse later explained that different anesthiologists often have different preferences. Dr. H., who assisted in the 2022 procedure, gives a small fentanyl dose prior to the anesthesia so the patient doesn’t feel the sting. He also prefers to put the IV in the arm. 

Last year, our new doc (Dr. C.) was the one who did the procedure. This year, it was Dr. G. (a different Dr. G. than our previous doc). He wasn’t unkind but maybe a little gruff. He asked if I had any questions, and I asked if he or one of the nurses would write on my hand how many eggs were retrieved. 

That was something I’d appreciated last year. 

“I don’t write on people,” was his short reply. 

Me, internally: “OK, great talk…”

The nurses said they’d tell me in the recovery room. After that, the anesthesiologist said it was time to go to sleep and the anesthesia would sting. While it didn’t sting, it definitely made my face feel all hot and tingly, but then I was out. 

Next thing I know, I was waking up in the recovery room. This actually felt much easier than last year. In 2022, I just felt so groggy and had a really hard time fully waking up. This time around, I felt more aware. 

The first question I asked was how many eggs they got. It was 19; same as last time. 

I also commented that I felt much more crampy this time around. The nurse asked who performed the procedure last year, and I told her Dr. C. 

“Dr. C.’s great! She’s much more gentle than Dr. G. It takes her longer per procedure, but it’s easier on your body.” (Even more reason to appreciate Dr. C.!)

Like last year, the lingering effects of the anesthesia made me feel nauseated. I was hopeful I could eat when we got home, but one look at my breakfast changed my mind fast. 

I decided to go to bed, lay on my heating pad, and hope I felt well enough to take the pain meds (which had to be taken with food) later. A few hours later, I was able to have some applesauce and take my meds. I stayed in bed for the rest of the afternoon. 

Later that night, I started feeling hungry again, and, oddly enough, Olive Garden sounded good. (And now that I think about it, spaghetti was the first meal that sounded good to me last year, too.)

I was able to eat some of my meal, but I still had some lingering nausea. Luckily, I kept everything down. Thank goodness that’s passed today (Tuesday). I’m still pretty crampy though. That heating pad has become my best friend.

Fair warning: For this next big difference I noticed, I’m going to discuss my lady bits, because I’m all about keeping it real and providing an honest account of IVF on this blog. If that makes you uncomfortable, look for the **********. After that, you’re safe to continue. 

I discovered one other big difference later in the evening. As I mentioned in a previous blog, there’s a number of pills that are part of the post-egg-retrieval protocol. Those include Nexium, Doxycycline, and Cabergoline. 

That last pill is a vaginal suppository. (If you don’t know what a suppository is, let me save you from Googling it–nobody needs that on their browser history. Suppositories are not taken orally. Rather, they’re inserted into a different orifice, typically the vagina or anus.) 

I’m supposed to “take” that each night at bedtime. 

When I went to insert the pill Monday night, it was incredibly difficult and something didn’t feel right. Then I remembered something I read in my patient instructions. 

The procedure paperwork mentioned that, sometimes, the injection sites are cauterized after the procedure. This can cause you to pass brown clots in the days after. 

Dr. G. had cauterized my va-j-j. (Ouch…)

I hadn’t noticed those brown clots, but there was definitely something really gritty feeling up there. After I was finally able to insert the medicine, my fingers were covered with brown and black specks. (Eww…)

While it doesn’t really hurt down there, it doesn’t really feel great either. That was definitely not part of the 2022 procedure. 

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As of writing this, I’m still pretty crampy and very tender in my lower abdomen. This is not like last year. 

In 2022, I felt mostly OK on day two. Nick and I were even able to walk the dogs that day. This time around, just walking around the house hurts. 

I’m grateful it’s over, but I’m also dreading having to do it again (which is highly likely). I’m hopeful our results are better this time around, but, even if they are, it could still be better to do this at least one more time to have enough viable embryos to move forward. 

I’ll post again in a couple of days and provide an update on how many potential baby Jacksons are progressing through embryology. 

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